Young Chris

Country singer Chris Young is ever on the rise, so expect to hear big things from this Tennessee-born, 6-string-wielding crooner. Having risen to fame (and a major record deal with RCA Records) in 2006 after winning the TV talent contest Nashville Star, this bundle of energy and good-time country sounds has been making hits, topping the number 1 spot in 2009 with his single ‘The Man I Want To Be’, and last year’s album ‘A.M.’, which features the incredibly catchy singles ‘Aw Naw’ and ‘Who I Am With You’. As well as strumming masterfully on his guitar, Young writes all his own material and sure knows how to construct great country songs, with tell-it-like-it-is lyrics, twangy hooks and beats to make you get your dancing shoes on. When I saw him at a rodeo show in San Antonio, Texas, last year, I had my doubts as to whether a hyped-up TV ‘talent’ could be any good live, and I am happy to report that such doubts were unfounded, and that Young put on a terrific show. He entered the bare stadium stage in a convertible, leapt out and began to play a fantastic 90-minute set of sing-all-the-words, foot-stomping country anthems, with a seemingly boundless energy that emanated back to the crowd, who were loving every minute. If country is your thing, do yourself a favour and don’t miss Chris Young!

Now in his seventy-second year, there’s no real question that Gene Watson is one of the most enduring figures of recent times in terms of his impact on the genre of country. He’s notched up twenty-three different top ten singles over the course of his career to date, but what really defines him these days are his live performances, which continue to thrill fans across the United States thanks to his prodigious touring schedule. Watson’s sets run through his entire back catalogue, with his signature track ‘Farewell Party’ getting an extended airing. He generally tends to lean towards the slower numbers in his repertoire, although that’s not to say that there’s no vitality to them; they’re brought to life especially impressively by the live ensemble that he’s put together, with drums, slide guitar and harmonica amongst the plethora of instrumentation backing him up. Watson rarely tours outside of his native U.S., but continues to show little sign of slowing down in his homeland, having released his latest album, My Heroes Have Always Been Country, earlier this year.

YouTube has fast become a platform for up and coming talents to propel themselves into superstardom. And Tori Kelly is shining as one of its brightest. Accumulating millions of views on videos of both covers and original music, she has attracted the attention of some of the industry’s biggest players, including new manager Scooter Braun and is working on her debut album with the likes of Ed Sheeran and Pharell Williams.

As a huge fan myself, who has been watching Tori’s videos online for years, when she announced her first headline show in London, there was no way I could miss it. Tori Kelly embodies the art of singing and songwriting. Walking on stage to a rapturous applause at London’s Bush Hall in January 2013, she showcased her gift perfectly, standing solo on the stage with her prized acoustic guitar. The crowd was made up of the majority of the UK music industry, all eager to witness the riffs and runs that have given Tori the reputation as one of the most skilled singers on the scene at the moment.

During her cover of Michael Jackson’s PYT, the crowd gasped as she proved she is just as good, if not better, live than she is in her videos (Skip to 2:24 on the PYT YouTube vid to see what I mean).At times appearing overwhelmed by the support that the crowd showed, Tori Kelly has only improved both vocally and in confidence the other times that I have been fortunate enough to see her, at Dingwalls and o2 Academy Islington.

She truly is one of the industry’s brightest young stars and her talent really does need to be witnessed live in order for it to be understood. I will never miss a Tori Kelly show in London, it’s just not worth it.